295
wheth
6336 - 1
SECRET
OCMIAN 6336
SECRET
DD 181030Z HOKON
FM FCOLON TO HONKON
151715Z NOV
GRS 470
HRR OU
ACEIVED IN REGISTRY 26 NOV 1985
SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 181030Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1803
OF 1517152 NOVEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
DESK OPPIER
ISTRY
ADEX
PA
Acton Taken
разв
6
YOUR TELNO 2510: JOINT LIAISON GROUP: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
IN HONG KONG
1.
I HAVE CONSIDERED THE MATTER FURTHER OVER THE WEEKEND, TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS PUT FORWARD BY EXCO. I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE RIGHT COURSE IS TO AGREE TO GIVE THE CHINESE A BRIEFING IN THE JLG ON CHANGES WHICH HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE WHITE PAPER. WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THE VIEW THAT WE SEE NO ISSUES AT PRESENT ARISING FOR 'CONSULTATION AND SOLUTION', WHILE AT THE SAME TIME OFFERING A DIALOGUE ON THE SUBJECT THROUGH INFORMAL CHANNELS. MIFT CONTAINS A DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE FOR THE
EMBASSY TO USE WHEN SPEAKING TO THE CHINESE.
2.
THE MAIN CONSIDERATION IN MY MIND IN REACHING THIS DECISION IS THAT, NOW THAT THE CHINESE HAVE MADE A FORMAL MOVE TO PUT THE MATTER ON THE AGENDA OF THE JLG, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO GET THEM SIMPLY TO WITHDRAW THEIR PROPOSAL. WE HAVE RECENTLY HAD A NUMBER OF HIGH LEVEL EXPRESSIONS OF
THE DECISION TO RAISE CONCERN FROM THE CHINESE ON THIS ISSUE.
THE MATTER IN THE JLG CAN ONLY HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL: THE CHINESE NEGOTIATORS ARE BOUND TO PRESS IT. TO TRY TO GET IT WITHDRAWN WOULD IN MY VIEW ONLY INCREASE CHINESE DETERMINATION TO PIN US DOWN. I THINK IT ESSENTIAL THEREFORE TO
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1
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